SAGINAW — Most of the season, it’s been the Saginaw Spirit’s forward group that has been banged up, bruised, and patched together.

Now, the Spirit find themselves with questions at goaltender.

Goaltender Tadeas Galansky left the ice Saturday following a first-period scramble in front of the net, and appeared to be favoring his shoulder. He returned to sit on the bench during the third period, and didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice.

After originally suggesting after Saturday’s game that Galansky could be out for an extended period of time, Spirit coach and General Manager Todd Watson didn’t update Galansky’s status after Tuesday’s practice.

That means the Spirit could be looking exclusively to 17-year-old Jake Paterson during three games over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Spirit started the weekend with a Wednesday night game in Plymouth, winner of seven straight entering the game.

From there, the Spirit make their first trip of the year to Sault Ste. Marie Friday night, before returning home for a Saturday game against Peterborough.

For Saginaw, shoring up the defense and goaltending remains crucial to breaking a slump of six losses in seven games. The Spirit have given up 107 goals , second-most in the Western Conference. Going into Wednesday, Paterson had lost his last five games, and four goals or more in each of his last four outings.

Saad still out

After initially suggesting last weekend that forward Brandon Saad could return from injury this week, Watson said Tuesday that he doesn’t expect the Spirit’s star forward to be available in any of the Spirit’s three weekend games.

Saad continued practicing this week in an orange no-contact jersey, but is not yet ready to return to game action after an upper body injury suffered Oct. 29 against Sarnia.

Spirit Spotlight

Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie

Puck Drops: 7:35 p.m. Friday

Radio: WSGW-FM 100.5

Series: First meeting

Notes: Saginaw and Sault Ste. Marie met zero times in the first 25 games of the season, and will now meet eight times in the final 43 games. The Greyhounds pulled off a blockbuster deal for goaltender Jack Campbell earlier this month.

Peterborough at Saginaw

Puck Drops: 7:11 p.m. Saturday

Series: 1-0 Saginaw

Notes: The Spirit came away with a 9-1 win in Peterborough earlier this year, easily their biggest margin of victory on the year. But the Petes have won seven of nine heading into a Friday game in Plymouth.